THE DIETS OF ADOLESCENTS ARE POOR AND FAIL TO MEET DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS. WHILE ADOLESCENTS EXCEED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDED SUGAR, SATURATED FAT, SODIUM, AND REFINED GRAINS, AND CONSUME SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES OF MEAT, POULTRY, AND EGGS, THEY ARE UNDER-CONSUMING PLANT-BASED FOOD GROUPS SUCH AS FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, WHOLE GRAINS, LEGUMES, NUTS, AND SEEDS. SHIFTING ADOLESCENTS' FOOD CHOICES TOWARDS INCREASING THEIR PLANT-BASED FOOD CHOICES (I.E., FRUITS, VEGETABLES, WHOLE GRAINS) HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND REDUCE CHRONIC DISEASE RISK. IT ALSO HAS THE POTENTIAL TO REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THEIR DIETS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT DIETARY PATTERNS ESTABLISHED EARLIER IN LIFE TEND TO CONTINUE THROUGH ADULTHOOD. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, AND PILOT-TEST AN INNOVATIVE PLANETARY HEALTH CURRICULUM THAT WILL ENCOMPASS THE IMPACT OF FOOD ON PLANETARY AND HUMAN HEALTH THAT IS GROUNDED IN THEIR DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES TO INCREASE PLANT-BASED FOODS THAT SUPPORTTHE PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASE AMONG ADOLESCENTS. THIS CURRICULUM WILL BE RESPONSIVE TO THE RECENT NEW JERSEY CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION REQUIREMENT FOR K-12 SCHOOLS.THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THIS SEED GRANT IS TO A) GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF FACTORS AFFECTING THE PLANT-BASED FOOD CHOICES OF ADOLESCENTS. B) DEVELOP A BEHAVIORALLY FOCUSED, THEORY-DRIVEN INTERVENTION USING A COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATION APPROACH TO GATHER INPUT AND FEEDBACK FROM ADOLESCENTS AIMED AT INCREASING INTAKE OF PLANT-BASED FOODS, C) REFINE THE INTERVENTION BASED ON A PILOT-TEST, AND D) SCALE UP THE PRODUCTS OF THIS SEED GRANT BY SEEKING FUNDING TO CONDUCT A RIGOROUS, RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED MULTI-STATE TRIAL IN SCHOOL CAFETERIAS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.